Tortuga Sailors make ‘Blue-Green’
training a success
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman
Brandon A. Myrick, USS Tortuga Public Affairs
Posted: Feb. 28, 2007
USS TORTUGA, At sea – Sailors
aboard USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and Marines from the 31st Marine
Expeditionary Unit (MEU) have lived together, worked together and
now completed successfully together a set of workups that culminated
in Amphibious Ready Group Exercise (ARGEX) and Evaluation Exercise (EVALEX)
07-1 in the vicinity of White Beach, Okinawa, Japan during the month
of February.
The pre-deployment training consisted of numerous Landing Craft Air
Cushion (LCAC) and small boat operations, along with other drills
and qualifications. The training is required to ensure that the MEU
and the Essex Amphibious Ready Group are capable of completing any
mission that it may be assigned for the upcoming spring patrol.
The training was achieved successfully due to the hard work,
tireless efforts and steadfast dedication displayed by the
Blue-Green team, said Tortuga’s Commanding Officer Cmdr. Todd A.
Lewis.
“Hard work and cooperation from both the Blue and Green sides played
a vital part for the overall success of this year‘s Blue-Green
operations,” said Lewis. “Helping the Marines through their
evaluation process so they can deploy as a maritime contingency
force, is both an educational and rewarding experience for our
Sailors. Whatever we can do to assist our Marines with their
training is our pleasure.”
This training is designed to give the Blue-Green team a chance to
practice interoperability while conducting and planning multiple
operations. Sailors and Marines were also allowed the opportunity
for day and night deck landing qualifications (DLQs), as well as
numerous other certifications needed for the ESXARG’s spring patrol.
Tortuga Sailors benefited from several opportunities of
interoperability exercises with elements of the 31st MEU during
ARGEX and EVALEX.
“The Blue-Green training was very important to both the Sailors and
Marines of all ranks,” said Gunnery Sgt. Daniel T. Hitzhusen, of the
31st MEU. “Future coordination of the Blue-Green units would not be
possible without this type of training.”
Junior Tortuga Sailors received valuable on-the-job training while
working alongside more experienced members of Tortugas flight deck
crew and LCAC crews to increase their proficiency and ensure proper
and safe deliveries of Marines and their equipment.
“When I came into the Navy I never thought this would be the kind of
work I would be doing,” said Interior Communications Electrician 2nd
Class Mark D. Phillips. “Getting to work with Marines during this
training operation and being part of the fire party team on the
flight deck during flight qualifications has been exciting.”
Tortuga Sailors have worked closely with not only their MEU
counterparts, but also the other ships of the ESXARG. The training
is a normal part of the ESXARGs’ training cycle and is conducted
twice a year.
“The Navy-Marine Corps relationship is unique and is not replicated
by any other two services. The Marine Corps is a department of the
Navy, therefore, our relationship with them is unlike the working
relationship between other services,” said Lewis. “We truly are, as
our motto states, ‘One Team, One Fight’.”
USS Tortuga (LSD 46) is a amphibious dock landing ship serving under
Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7/Task Force 76, the Navy’s
only forward-deployed amphibious force. ESG 7/Task Force 76 is
headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an
operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan. The 31st Marine Expeditionary
Unit is permanently forward-deployed from Okinawa, Japan.
For more information on CTF 76, visit www.ctf76.navy.mil.
This is an official U.S.
Navy web site and the official web site for the U.S. 7th Fleet. Contact the Webmaster via
e-mail or Unit 25104; FPO
AP 96601-6003.
